03/07/2012

If a fast food chain once owned in part by McDonald’s can make us cry, then maybe it shouldn’t be surprising that a new campaign by Greenpeace--a well-intentioned group that can come off as both abrasive and extremist--can simply kick us in the gut with imagery.

Because when I look at these new ads by DraftFCB Switzerland, I don’t think about the mixed environmental implications of, say, Greenpeace rejecting all nuclear energy technology. In the gothic-industrial ink line drawings, I can only consider what Man has done wrong: built an infrastructure that is bigger and more devastating than he can control. And at least for a moment, I can’t find a single reason to disagree with their worldview.

But why are they so powerful? I can’t help but wonder if Greenpeace’s messaging was more honest than they intended, conveying that in the face of the global machine, the environmental movement finds itself hopelessly outgunned. We see, not a scrappy underdog fight, but an unavoidable slaughter in the making.

David never looked so small.

COMMENTARY: Greenpeace is a global environmental organization, consisting of Greenpeace International (Stichting Greenpeace Council) in Amsterdam, and 27 national and regional offices around the world, providing a presence in 41 countries.

2011 was the year the bottom shook the top and "The Protestor" was named Time Magazine person of the year. The faces in our Year in Pictures pay tribute to our contribution and to the benefit of standing up and taking action. Check out Greenpeace 2011 in pictures in the video below:

These national and regional offices are largely autonomous in carrying out jointly agreed global campaign strategies within the local context they operate in, and in seeking the necessary financial support from donors to fund this work. National and regional offices support a network of volunteer-run local groups. Local groups participate in campaigns in their area, and mobilise for larger protests and activities elsewhere. Millions of supporters who are not organised into local groups support Greenpeace by making financial donations and participating in campaigns as citizens and consumers.

National and Regional Offices

Greenpeace is present in the following countries and regions, as of March 2007:

Greenpeace runs campaigns and projects which fit into the "Issues" (as campaign areas are called within Greenpeace) categories below. Besides exposing problems such as over-fishing or threats linked to nuclear energy such as harmful radiation and proliferation, Greenpeace campaigns for alternative solutions such as marine reserves and renewable energy.

The organisation currently addresses many environmental issues with a primary focus on efforts to stop global warming and the preservation of the world's oceans and ancient forests. In addition to conventional environmental organisation methods, such as lobbying businesses and politicians, and participating in international conferences, Greenpeace uses nonviolent direct action in many of its campaigns.

Greenpeace uses direct action to attract attention to particular environmental problems. For example, activists place themselves between the whaler's harpoon and their prey, or invade nuclear facilities dressed as barrels of radioactive waste. Other initiatives include the development of a fuel-efficient car, the SmILE.

Eliminating toxic chemicals (including from E-waste), many of which are carcinogens.

You have to applaud the courage and worldwide activities of Greenpeace. Here they are fighting off Japanese whaling ships in the Arctic ocean.

Some people don't agree with the aggressiveness and tactics of Greenpeace ships, including trying to get those Japanese whaling ships away from the whales and in the above video, you saw the consequences. Unfortunately, the Japanese whaling ships carry more fuel or are re-fueled by tankers, so Greenpeace had to leave to be refueled.

I think it's time that Japan and other countries stop killing the whales. The whales don't harm anyone and they are beautiful and majestic mammals of the sea. Stay away from the whales!! See, I got myself all worked up.

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